Why is Windows more susceptible to viruses than any other operating system?

Answer 1

There are a bunch of different reasons for this. Someone
working for Microsoft can contribute more, I'm sure.

1: Since it is the vast majority of the computing base out there,
would-be hackers get the most "bang" for their hacking
buck by figuring out how to break it. Success brings
pain.

2: Microsoft's product has "grown by aquisition" - that is to
say that large parts of their technology actually belonged to
other companies and was acquired by Microsoft and
integrated into the product. Since the original code was
written by other people who may or may not work for
Microsoft, its foibles are not well known by the original
coders and will be insufficiently tested.

3: Many of the Microsoft programs use "macros", a powerful
capability whereby a document becomes a mini-program.
Most of the use of the mini-program features is benign
but due to the power of some of these features (like
writing to files), a nastily written document can become
a virus.

4: Microsoft deliberately does not publish its protocols
which means that its entire q/a process must be in-house.
Publishing your protocols though initially making your
code easier to hack, in the long run makes it harder to hack.

5: Microsoft wants to completely own the software that they
create - consequently they are constantly re-writing the
wheel. The most famous case, of course, is the TCP/IP
stack, which took years to thresh the bugs out of. There
were several perfectly usable well debugged implementations
of the IP stack out there for their use - but they wouldn't
have owned the code.

6: (Matter of opinion coming up here): Microsoft is a
marketing company, not an engineering company.
It does not innovate, it acquires other people's innovations
and then brings them to market in a way that eliminates
competition. Since they aren't engineering except when
they have to, they are constantly tripping over integration
problems (see #2).

Answer 2

It is just as susceptable as a MAC or a Linux system. The only thing is, the high majority of people use Windows. If a person made a virus for a MAC, they would only be crippling under 5% of computer owners (if the virus was strong enough). And if they made on for Linux, they would only be affecting under 3%.

Answer 3

Microsoft has integrated applications (like Outlook, Word, Excel, etc.) closely into the Operating System as a service to customers to make it easier to open files, etc.

Unfortunately, this makes it vulnerable to people who have malicious intents.

As Windows is the most popular Operating System, people who write these viruses know they will spread to more users than if they chose for the Mac.

Answer 4

Because it's by far the most popular. Why write a virus for an OS no one uses? It's not apples to apples comparing Windows to any other OS because none other is as popular. Virus writers and hackers go where then can get the most attention. Doesn't mean other OS's aren't vulnerable...they just don't bother with them.

Answer 5

because since the overwhelming majority of computer users and, in particular, internet users are operating on windows platforms, therefore, the malicious virus creating programmers and internet hackers write viruses and exploit security holes on these systems. basically, if apple had 90% of the computer users, the security issues would be targeting apple

Answer 6

I'm guessing that's because most people have Windows, and therefore most viruses are developed for windows so that the viruses can be more widespread.

Answer 7

Very simple answer over 90 percent of PC's worldwide use MS Windows. That is why Windows is targeted more because more people use Windows than any other OS.

Answer 8

It's no more susceptible than any other system. It's just the most popular, therefore, the most attacked.

Answer 9

Because most people have Windows so most viruses are made to attack windows, ontop off that Windows' security sucks

Answer 10

It is the most popular...Also it is the OS used on most commonly used system for beginers, so hackers and identify theives have a good selection of victims to get credit card #s from.